THE DRAFT BREEDS OF HORSES 21 



tion has been formed in France for the keeping of records 

 in the form of a stud-book. It is thought by Americans 

 who have investigated the matter that the transformation 

 in color and size in the Percheron horses in the past ten 

 or fifteen years has been brought about, to some extent 

 at least, by the use of the best types of Nivernais stallions 

 from this district, crossed on the mares of the La Perche 

 district. 



Individuals of this breed have been imported to America 

 in increasing numbers in recent years ; it is classed as one 

 of the French draft breeds. Individuals of this breed may 

 be recorded in the stud-book of the National French Draft 

 Horse Association of America on the same basis as are 

 the horses of the Boulonnais breed. 



BELGIAN HORSE. Plate I. Fig. 3. 

 By W. L. Carlyle 



13. The Belgian horse is fast becoming one of the 

 most popular of the draft breeds. 



14. History in Belgium. In the early history of the 

 Belgian breed of draft horses, no particular animals appear 

 to have been prominent nor has any breeder of outstand- 

 ing merit appeared. This breed, unlike most other 

 draft breeds that have been developed, has been almost 

 entirely the product of its environment. The small 

 country of Belgium has a reputation as the home of draft 

 horses extending back through several centuries. Many, 

 if not all, of the draft breeds of Great Britain and France 

 were greatly improved during their formative period by 

 the use of the heavy Flemish horses, the early progenitors 

 of the Belgians. Modern horse-breeding in Belgium, how- 



